Is it true or false that driving slower saves more fuel?

However, this is a misconception and unfounded based on the manufacturer's instructions.

When buying a car, choosing a fuel-efficient model is crucial. However, driving style also significantly impacts fuel economy. So, how can you drive to achieve the highest possible fuel efficiency?

In reality, there's no single rule that applies to all vehicles when it comes to driving speed for fuel efficiency. Each vehicle, with its unique specifications, will have an optimal speed to reduce fuel consumption. Driving too slowly or too fast can both unnecessarily increase fuel consumption.

Why isn't driving slowly saving fuel?

When driving very slowly, the engine typically rotates at a low RPM, usually between 1,000 and 3,000 RPM. When driving in low gears, the engine speed per kilometer is higher. This results in more fuel being consumed for each rotation.

Additionally, if the vehicle is traveling at a higher speed, it will shift to a higher gear, but still maintain the engine speed within the range of 1,000 to 3,000 rpm. When the engine operates at this RPM for extended periods, it results in lower fuel consumption. However, this also comes with increased drag.

Specifically, air resistance increases squarely with speed. For example, when driving at 80 km/h, air resistance is eight times greater than at 40 km/h. This means that when the speed doubles, air resistance increases fourfold. This means the engine has to work harder to overcome air resistance, and therefore, fuel consumption will increase.

To save fuel, drivers should operate their vehicles at speeds ranging from 48 to 80 km/h. At this speed, air resistance is minimal, and the engine should be in a higher gear to achieve optimal fuel economy per revolution (km/h). Unless the vehicle is aerodynamically designed, most cars will not achieve optimal fuel economy per kilometer when driven at speeds between 96 and 104 km/h.

Therefore, drivers need to understand that driving at a low speed, such as 16 km/h, for an extended period will not actually save more fuel than driving at a high speed, such as 144 km/h.

Mistakes to avoid while driving to save fuel.

Avoid sudden acceleration or deceleration: Do not press the accelerator hard to increase speed quickly and then brake suddenly, as this behavior damages the engine and increases fuel consumption by up to four times.

Limit excessive use of air conditioning: Avoid overusing the air conditioner, especially when driving slowly, as this increases fuel consumption. Experts recommend reducing air conditioning use when the outside temperature is above 26.6 degrees Celsius to save approximately 10-15% on fuel.

Refuel when the tank is empty: To avoid damaging your car, you shouldn't let it run completely out of gas before refueling. The best solution is to refuel when the fuel gauge is less than half full.